Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said on Monday (April 18) that the government will try to make it possible for South Koreans to travel by train to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Construction works for two cross-border railways -- in both the eastern and western parts of the Korean Peninsula -- began in 2003. But the construction has made slow progress with the inter-Korean relationship turning sour recently.

During an interpellation session at the Unification, Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee of the National Assembly, Chung said that there are no “technical” problems in commuting between Seoul and Beijing via North Korea.

“There is no technical problem (for South Koreans) to depart from Dorasan Station for Beijing via Pyongyang, Sinuiju and (China's) Dandong because Gyeongui (Seoul-Uiju) Railroad was linked late last year,” he said.

Dorasan Station is South Korea's northernmost railway station on the western border.

South Korea finished construction works in the southern part of the Gyeongui line on border area and is currently helping North Korea construct or repair the station buildings along the railway in the northern part.

Another construction project for Donghae Railroad along the east coast is also near completion.

South Korea allotted 142 billion won (140 million) for inter-Korean railway and road project this year, an increase from 86.4 billion won ($83 million) last year.